NSB Employees Donate to Bread and Roses Food Pantry

Pictured left to right are Pat Murdock, Bread and Roses volunteer, Cassidy Murdock, North Shore Bank Teller, and Susan Sirois, Bread and Roses Executive Director

PEABODY, MA — (www.northshore-bank.com) On Fridays, customers of North Shore Bank can find their favorite bankers sporting casual attire and something a little unusual for the ordinary banker - denim jeans. That’s because at North Shore Bank, Friday is Jeans Day. In exchange for $5 each week, employees wear jeans to work while the proceeds collected are pooled together for the month and then donated to an area charity that is recommended by the employees.

Recently the Bank presented the Bread and Roses Food Pantry in Lawrence with a check for $1,140 from the proceeds collected during February. Cassidy Murdock, a teller in North Shore Bank’s Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus branch suggested Bread and Roses as a recipient for their Jeans Day program. Murdock, whose grandparents volunteered their time to the food pantry for many years said:

“My grandparents have been friends of Bread and Roses for so many years. When my grandfather passed earlier this year, I wanted to find a way to give back to the organization that had given so much to him and my family.” She went on to say, “The bank’s jeans day program seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Bread and Roses is a soup kitchen whose long been a center of hope and caring to the thousands of people in the Merrimack Valley who are struggling for survival.

"Virtually every space in our building has been painted, or straightened, or fixed in some way by Bob Murdock. His wife Pat has volunteered in the kitchen, and continues to volunteer still. We’re so pleased that this was as much a ‘home’ to them as it’s been for so many other longtime volunteers.”

On the donation from the North Shore Bank employees, Ms. Sirois said:

"We're so grateful for any donation, but more so when we know that many hearts came together to do a good thing for the people who need it most. Most of our food is donated, but often we need to buy something that's not on our shelves.” She continued, “North Shore Bank’s donation, in part, made sure that our Easter Brunch was as special this year as it's been in the past. We really appreciate their generosity and support."

About the Bread and Roses

Founded in 1980, the primary purpose of Bread and Roses is to ease the hunger of people in their community by providing a well-balanced, nutritious evening meal. Completely supported by private donations, they are guided by a spirit of hospitality, nonviolence, and respect for the dignity of each person who comes through their door. All in need are welcome to their center to partake in a community meal in a peaceful, friendly environment. Since hunger relief is their main concern, there is no cost for a meal. From the beginning, people of all different creeds, backgrounds and experiences have joined them as dinner guests, volunteers, and donors. They welcome diversity, realizing that the coming together of so many people is the first step in breaking down barriers and contributing to a new order based on sharing, love, peace and justice.

About North Shore Bank

North Shore Bank is a full-service community bank based in Peabody, Massachusetts and serving the personal and business banking needs of the North Shore, eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Established in 1888, the bank operates out of twelve area offices, located in Beverly, Danvers, Merrimac, Middleton, Newton, New Hampshire, Peabody, Salem and Saugus.